JP3064352B2 - Information collection system for image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Purpose of the Invention] (Industrial application field) The present invention relates to information collection of an image forming apparatus such as an electronic copying machine, which collects various information such as abnormality occurrence information. About the system.

(Prior Art) In recent years, with the remarkable progress and spread of electronic devices, it has become a problem how to efficiently manage these devices.

For example, in an image forming apparatus such as an electronic copying machine, information on occurrence of abnormality such as a paper jam occurring during operation is
Since it could only be collected at the time of regular patrols of maintenance personnel or on-call contact with users, for example,
Even if a serious abnormality occurs and repairs are required, special tools and replacement parts are required after going to the site,
It was often inconvenient and was very inefficient.

In order to solve the above problem, a method of collecting the abnormality occurrence information online has recently been considered.

(Problems to be Solved by the Invention) However, even if the information on the occurrence of the abnormality is simply collected online, the cause of the abnormality cannot be pursued because the occurrence state cannot be grasped. Could not be issued. In the end, maintenance staff often have to go to the site and take action, and even if an information collection system is built, it cannot be fully utilized and does not lead to efficient maintenance and management. There was a problem.

Therefore, according to the present invention, when an abnormality occurs in an image forming apparatus, it is possible to easily pursue the cause of the abnormality occurrence in a remote place without maintenance personnel going to the installation location, and to efficiently maintain and manage the image forming apparatus. It is an object of the present invention to provide an information collection system for an image forming apparatus capable of performing the above.

[Configuration of the Invention] (Means for Solving the Problems) An information collecting system for an image forming apparatus according to the present invention includes an image forming apparatus for forming an image on an image forming medium, and an operation status of the image forming apparatus for a short time. A detecting means for detecting at every interval, and a storage means for updating the information indicating the operation status detected at each minute time interval by the detecting means within a predetermined storage capacity, and always storing the information indicating the latest operation status by a predetermined capacity. A determination unit that determines the presence or absence of an abnormality in the image forming apparatus based on information indicating an operation status detected by the detection unit, and the determination unit determines that an abnormality has occurred in the image forming apparatus. A control unit for stopping the storage operation of the storage unit and transmitting information indicating the latest operation status of the image forming apparatus stored in the storage unit up to the time of the stop; And a reception device that receives information transmitted by the control means.

Further, the information collection system of the image forming apparatus of the present invention,
An image forming apparatus for forming an image on an image forming medium, a first storage unit storing various adjustment values for operating the image forming apparatus, and various adjustment values stored in the first storage unit First control means for controlling the image forming operation of the image forming apparatus based on the image data, detecting means for detecting the operation status of the image forming apparatus at minute time intervals, and detecting at minute time intervals by the detecting means. The information indicating the operating status is updated within the predetermined storage capacity, the second storage means that always stores the information indicating the latest operating status by the predetermined capacity, and the information indicating the operating status detected by the detection means, Determining means for determining whether there is an abnormality in the image forming apparatus; and when the determining means determines that an abnormality has occurred in the image forming apparatus, the storage operation of the second storage means is stopped. When A second control unit for performing control for transmitting information indicating the latest operation status of the image forming apparatus stored in the second storage unit, and a second control unit connected to the second control unit via a communication line; An external device having a receiving unit for receiving the information transmitted by the second control unit and a processing unit for rewriting the adjustment value stored in the first storage unit is provided.

(Operation) Information indicating the operation status of the image forming apparatus is stored in the storage unit, and when an abnormality occurs in the image forming apparatus, the information indicating the operation status near the time when the abnormality is detected is read out from the storage unit. By transmitting and receiving the transmitted information by a remote receiving device, the receiving device can easily pursue the cause of the occurrence of the abnormality based on the received information.

Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 2 schematically shows an image forming apparatus to which the present invention is applied, for example, an electronic copying machine. That is, the electronic copying machine includes a copying machine main body 1 and an automatic document feeder 28 which is provided on the upper surface of the copying machine main body 1 so as to be freely opened and closed and automatically supplies a document.

The copying machine main body 1 receives the copying machine 3 and the sheet discharged from the discharge unit of the copying apparatus 3 as necessary, and in a state where the copying machine 3 is subjected to multiplex or double-sided copying as it is, or in a reversed state. And a multiplex double-sided copying unit 27 leading to the sheet feeding section of the copying apparatus 3 again.

A document table (transparent glass) 2 for supporting a document is fixed on the upper surface of the copying apparatus 3. An automatic document feeder 28 is provided so as to be openable and closable so as to cover the document table 2.
It is automatically transported to the upper exposure position.

Automatic document feeder 28, document feed table 28 ₁ on which a document is set, along with the take out one by one set original on the original feed table 28 _1, paper feed the reversal conveyance section reversing the original is provided part 28 _2, the transport unit 28 as the document cover for conveying the picked document on the document table 2 _3, provided in the transport unit 28 _3, constituted by a sheet discharge tray 28 ₄ document copying has been completed is discharged Have been.

Inside the paper feeding section 28 _2, conveying rollers 28b to convey take-out roller 28a to take out the document set on the document feeding table 28 _1, was taken out sheet to the transport unit 28 _3, 28c, 28d, and the document A reversing conveyance path 28e as a reversing conveyance section through which a document set on the table 2 and having one side copied is guided, and conveyance rollers 28f, 28g, 28h arranged along the reversing conveyance path 28e are provided. .

Moreover, the transport unit 28 _3, a belt for conveying the original supplied from the paper supply unit 28 ₂ sets the position of the document table 2 to (exposure position)
28i are provided. The belt 28i is
hung on k. The belt 28i is adapted to discharge the document copying is finished to the sheet discharge tray 28 _4, in a state where one surface of the copying is completed document, feed unit 28 an original
_The document is conveyed to the _second reversing conveyance path 28e, and the document reversed by the reversing conveyance path 28e is operated to be conveyed again to the set position of the document table 2.

The original placed on the original table 2 by the automatic original feeder 28 or the operator is exposed and scanned by the optical system including the exposure lamp 4 and the mirrors 5, 6, and 7 moving along the lower surface of the original table 2. It has become so. In this case, the mirrors 6 and 7 are 1/2 of the mirror 5 so as to keep the optical path length constant.
It moves at the speed of. The reflected light from the original by the scanning of the optical system, that is, the reflected light from the original due to the irradiation of light from the exposure lamp 4 is reflected by the mirrors 5, 6, and 7 and then passes through the lens block 8 for zooming. The light is reflected by 9 ₁ , 9 ₂ , and 9 ₃ and guided to the photosensitive drum 10 as an image carrier, so that an original image is formed on the surface of the photosensitive drum 10.

The photoreceptor drum 10 is rotated in the direction of arrow c in the drawing, and the surface is first charged by the charging charger 11, and thereafter, the original image is subjected to slit exposure to form an electrostatic latent image on the surface. This electrostatic latent image is visualized by attaching toner by the developing units 12a and 12b. The developing devices 12a and 12b develop the latent image with, for example, a black toner or a red toner, and are selected by an operation panel (not shown).

Meanwhile, paper, operating upper sheet cassette 13 ₁ selected by the panel, the lower sheet feeding cassette 13 _2, the large-capacity paper feed cassette 13 ₃ or upper sheet cassette 13 manual feeder 13a provided in _1, The rollers are taken out one by one by the feed rollers 14 ₁ , 14 ₂ , 14 ₃ , 14 ₄ and the roller pairs 15 ₁ , 15 ₂ , 15 _3, respectively, and passed through the paper guide paths 16 ₁ , 16 ₂ , 16 ₃ and the registration roller pair. 1
7 and is supplied to the transfer section by the pair of registration rollers 17.

The sheet sent to the transfer section is brought into close contact with the surface of the photosensitive drum 10 at the transfer charger 18, and the toner image on the photosensitive drum 10 is transferred by the action of the charger 18. The transferred sheet is electrostatically peeled off from the photosensitive drum 10 by the action of the peeling charger 19, and is conveyed by the conveyor belt 20 to the fixing roller 21 as a fixing unit provided at the terminal end thereof. Sent. The transferred image is fixed by passing therethrough. The sheet after the fixing is discharged to a tray 24 outside the main body 1 by a pair of sending rollers 22 and 23.

Further, the toner remaining on the surface of the photosensitive drum 10 after the transfer is removed by the cleaner 25, and the photosensitive drum 10 returns to the initial state.

When performing double-sided copying or multiple copying, the paper after transfer is guided to the multiple double-sided copying unit 27 by the sorting gate 26. Multiplex duplex unit 27
Is or duplex on one sheet, which makes it possible to perform multiple copy on the same surface of a sheet of paper, the large-capacity paper feed cassette 13 _3, provided on the multi-sided copying unit 27 Have been.

The multiple-sided copying unit 27 has the sorting gate described above.
A transport path 27b for guiding the paper taken in by 26 to a stacking section 27a
The transport path 27b is provided with a plurality of transport roller pairs 27c, 27d, 27e, and 27f at predetermined intervals.

The stacking unit 27a is provided with a take-out roller 27g for taking out the sheets stored therein. The take-out roller 27g is movable in the direction of the arrow in the figure according to the thickness (number of sheets) of the stored sheets. Further, the accumulation unit 27a
The length guide 51 is provided movably in accordance with the length of the stored paper (size in the transport direction), and the stored paper is pressed against the width guide 52 to adjust the paper. Side aligning roller 5
3,53 are provided.

The paper taken out of the stacking unit 27a by the take-out roller 27g is separated into a pair of separation rollers 27 that separates and feeds the paper one by one.
Guided to control gate 27i via h. This control gate
27i is rotated in the direction of arrow M in the drawing when performing multiple copying, and guides the sheet as it is to the registration roller pair 17 via the conveyance roller pair 27j and the conveyance path 27k. In the case of performing double-sided copying, first, the state shown in FIG.
It is designed to guide you to 7m. When the sheet is stored in the reversing section 27m, the control gate 27i is further rotated in the direction of the arrow T in the drawing, and the sheet sent by the pair of conveying rollers 27l is sent to the pair of registration rollers 17 via the pair of conveying rollers 27j and the conveying path 27k. The guide is designed to be turned upside down.

55 are passage detection switches for detecting the passage of a sheet, and the passage detection switches 55,... Detect a paper jam (paper jam). In addition to the passage detection switches 55,..., A limit switch for detecting the initial position of the optical system, a switch (not shown) for detecting an abnormal operation of the main motor, and the like are provided at various places. ing.

FIG. 1 schematically shows the overall configuration of an information collection system for an image forming apparatus according to the present invention. That is, the main control unit 60 of the copying machine main body 1 controls the overall operation. The main control unit 60 includes a first memory 61, an input / output interface 62 with the mechanism of the copying machine, and an external line. A communication interface 63 with a modem (modem) 68, a timer 64, a pattern generator 65, a second memory 66 as a storage means, a memory control unit 67, and the like are connected.

The main controller 60 is mainly composed of a microcomputer and its peripheral circuits, and operates according to a program stored in the first memory 61.

The input / output interface 62 has a passage detection switch 5
5, a drive control unit 72 for controlling a main motor 71 as a drive source for the photosensitive drum 10, etc.
An exposure controller 73 for controlling the exposure of the exposure lamp 4, a counter 74 for counting the number of copies, an operation panel 75, a developing color detecting device 76, and the like are connected.

A modem 68 is connected to the communication interface 63. The modulator / demodulator 68 modulates various data and other information sent from the communication interface 63 into an audio signal in a data format suitable for transfer, and further sends out the signal to the public line 80 according to the transmission format.
Is demodulated and transmitted to the main control unit 60 via the communication interface 63.

The timer 64 performs time measurement necessary for various processes performed by the main control unit 60 and has a clock function. The timer 64 transmits various data and information during a set time, for example, at midnight when the line is not used for telephone calls. Is performed.

The pattern generator 65 receives the code data from the main control unit 60, converts the code data into a character pattern that is the corresponding image data, and outputs the character pattern to the communication interface 63. This makes it possible to deal with the case where the data transfer destination is a device that handles image data, such as a facsimile machine.

The memory control unit 67 stores the information indicating the operation status of the electronic copying machine every 1 ms, for example, the information indicating the on / off state of the various detection switches 70 in the second memory 66.
Are stored sequentially. Second memory 66
In the case where an abnormality occurs in the electronic copying machine, a sufficient amount of memory, for example, for about 20 seconds, is secured for pursuing the cause later. Then, in a normal operation state, new information is always written in the second memory 66, and when the capacity becomes full, the second memory 66 returns to the first address again and continues storing. In addition, the memory control unit 67 stops the operation of storing data in the second memory 66 when an abnormality occurs.

The external device (receiving device) 81 receives and manages data from the public line 80. The external device 81 basically includes a modem 82 and a processing device 83.

The modem 82 demodulates data received from the public line 80 and outputs the data to the processing device 83, and modulates the data from the processing device 83 into an audio signal and outputs the audio signal to the public line 80.

The processing device 83 stores the data received from the modem 82 in a storage device (not shown) such as a floppy disk, displays the data on a display device (not shown) such as a CRT display, or prints the data using a printer or the like. Printing is performed by an apparatus (not shown). The processing device 83 includes an input device (not shown) such as a keyboard.
Requesting the transfer of various data to the copying machine 1 or the rewriting of the contents of the nonvolatile RAM (provided in the first memory 61) in the copying machine main body 1, for example, the adjustment value of the exposure voltage of the exposure lamp 4. You can also do it.

In such a configuration, if an abnormality such as a paper jam occurs, the main control unit 60 detects the abnormality based on the state of the various detection switches 70 and notifies the memory control unit 67 of the fact. Then, the memory control unit 67 stops the operation of storing in the second memory 66. When there is a data transmission request from the external device 81 via the public line 80 or the like, the memory control unit 67 transmits the information for 20 seconds stored in the second memory 66 before and after the occurrence of the abnormality to the external device via the communication interface 63. apparatus
Send to 81. The external device 81 that has received this information knows the on / off state of the various detection switches 70 at 1 ms intervals from the information, so that it is possible to clarify what abnormality has occurred in which part and go to the site. Without this, the cause of the occurrence of the abnormality can be easily pursued. As a result, depending on the nature of the abnormality, it is only necessary to change various adjustment values in the nonvolatile RAM from the external device 81,
You do not have to go to the site.

If a plurality of electronic copiers are managed using the location where the external device is installed as a center, more efficient operation is possible.

[Effects of the Invention] As described above in detail, according to the present invention, when an abnormality occurs in an image forming apparatus, it is possible to easily pursue the cause of the abnormality occurrence in a remote place without a maintenance person going to the installation location,
Therefore, an appropriate treatment can be instructed from a remote place, and an information collection system for an image forming apparatus that can efficiently maintain and manage the image forming apparatus can be provided.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 shows an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 1 is a block diagram schematically showing the overall configuration, and FIG. 2 is a side sectional view schematically showing the configuration of an electronic copying machine. 1. Copier body, 60 Main control unit, 61 First memory, 62 Input / output interface, 63 Communication interface, 66 Second memory (storage means), 67
Memory control unit, 68: modem, 81: external device (receiving device).

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continuing on the front page (72) Inventor Shoji Takano 70, Yanagicho, Kochi-ku, Kawasaki City, Kanagawa Prefecture Inside the Toshiba Yanagicho Plant (72) Inventor Shinichi Hashimoto 70, Yanagicho, Kochi-ku, Kawasaki City, Kanagawa Prefecture Toshiba Corporation Inside the Yanagimachi Plant (56) References JP-A-3-196053 (JP, A) JP-A-2-32885 (JP, A) JP-A-1-106075 (JP, A) JP-A-63-118962 (JP, A A) JP-A-2-34864 (JP, A) JP-A-2-12267 (JP, A) JP-A-3-161763 (JP, A) (58) Fields investigated (Int. Cl. ⁷ , DB name ) G03G 21/00 370-512 G03G 21/14 G03G 15/00 303

Claims (2)

(57) [Claims] 1. An image forming apparatus for forming an image on a medium on which an image is to be formed, detecting means for detecting the operation status of the image forming apparatus at minute time intervals, and operation detecting at minute time intervals by the detecting means. A storage unit that updates information indicating a situation within a predetermined storage capacity and always stores information indicating the latest operation state by a predetermined capacity, and information indicating the operation state detected by the detection unit, Determining means for determining the presence or absence of an abnormality in, when the determining means determines that an abnormality has occurred in the image forming apparatus, stops the storage operation of the storage means,
Control means for controlling transmission of information indicating the latest operation status of the image forming apparatus stored in the storage means up to the time of the stop; and a receiving apparatus for receiving information transmitted by the control means. An information collection system for an image forming apparatus, comprising: 2. An image forming apparatus for forming an image on a medium on which an image is to be formed, a first storage means for storing various adjustment values for operating the image forming apparatus, and a first storage means for storing the adjusted values in the first storage means. First control means for controlling the image forming operation of the image forming apparatus on the basis of various adjustment values, detecting means for detecting the operation status of the image forming apparatus at minute time intervals, and A second storage unit that updates information indicating the operation status detected at each time interval within a predetermined storage capacity and always stores information indicating the latest operation status by a predetermined capacity, and an operation status detected by the detection unit A determination unit that determines the presence or absence of an abnormality in the image forming apparatus based on the information indicating that the storage operation of the second storage unit is performed when the determination unit determines that an abnormality has occurred in the image forming apparatus. stop A second control unit for controlling transmission of information indicating the latest operation status of the image forming apparatus stored in the second storage unit up to the time of the stop; and a communication line connected to the second control unit. And an external device having a receiving unit connected via the second control unit for receiving information transmitted by the second control unit, and a processing unit for rewriting the adjustment value stored in the first storage unit. An information collection system for an image forming apparatus, comprising: